The Sun. — London, England, 1864-05-13 00:00:00

NEW AMERICAN ODE—Silent Pa u p er s , o r Starved to Death—Our Critic among the Pictures, &c. &c., in FUN this week. One Penny. THE DERBY.—RACE GLASSES (the best), at CALLAGHAN 2.3 A, New Bond-street, W., corner of Conduit-street. N.B.—Sole agent to Vottlander, Vienna. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, Covent -garden. From this timeuntil the end of the season there will be four Opera nights in each week, viz., every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Mdlle. LagTllll.; Mdlle. Battu. Herr Schmid; Mg. Naudin. TO-MOK.R.OW EVENING (Saturday), May 14, will be performed, for the first time this season, Meyerbeer's Grand romantic Opera, ROBE ttTO IL DIAVOLO. Alice. Mdlle. ;l! milia LaZrUft, her first appearance in that character in Eng'and ; Isabella, Mdlle. Marie Battu ; Elena. Mdlle. Sal vioni ; Bertram° er Scmw, his first appearance in that character in England ; Eraido. Signor - Potonini ; Alberto, Signor Capponi ; Cava ieri, Signor Lucchesi, Signor Rossi, and Signor Fallar ; tiambaldo, Signor Neri-Baraldi ; and Roberto. Signor A audin, h s first appearance in that charac ter la England. Conductor, Mr. Ccsta. Commence at half past Eight. Pit tickets, 7;. ; amphitheatre ,ta Is, Ios. 6d., 75., and ss. ; Amphitheatre. 2s. Cd. Boxes, stalls, and tickets may be had st thD box-offic , under the portico of the thew re, which is open from ten to five, and at the principal musicsellas' and THEATRE ROYAL DRUR Y-L AN E. Managers, Messrs. Edmond Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, AN APRIL FOOT,. ?dlr. G. Belmore. Alter which, will be produced the Grand Stage Revival of Shakspere's Chronicle or Historical Play, entitled the First Part of HENRY THE FOURTH. The cast will include impersonations by those eminent %rtists, Mr. PHELPS, Mr. Walter Montgomery, Mr. Walter Lacy, Mr. Addison, Mr. Ryder, Mr. Itobert Roxby, Mr. Barrett, Mr. E Phelps, Mr. Rayner, Mr. H. Vandenhoff,, Mr. Belmore, Mr. Ellerton, Mr. Fi tz j ames, Mr. Neville ; Miss Edith Wynne, Mss Rcse Leciercq, And Mrs. Edmund Fal coner, supported by all the Members of the Drury-lane Ccm pany. Concluding with MY HEART'S IN THE HIGHLANDS. THEATRE AOYAL HAYMARKET.— S ole Lessee and Manager, Mr, Ruckstone. THIS EVENING, AN UNLUCKY MORTAL. Mr. Wm. I , 4rren and Miss 2.1 Barris. After which, DAVID GARRICK. Messrs. Sothern, Chippendale, Buckstorte, Rogers, Clark, Weathersby, &c. ; Mesdames Snowden, NOV Moore, Fitzwilliam. After which, the new Easter piece, entitled VENUS AND ADONIS. Messrs. Compton, Wm. Farren, Coe. &c. ; Mes dames Louise heeley, Snowden, Nellyl'ower, Hill, Wright, Rogers, dtc. To conclude with A KISS IN THE DARK. Commence at 7. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Sole Management of Mr. Fechter. With the most earnest d:-sire to adhere to the previous announcement, Mr. FECHTEH is compelled, in consequence of the extraordinary Scenic preparation , to PO ,Tl - 'ONE the production of HAMLET until SATURDAY, May 21. R OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- Sole Lesee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, DONNA DIANA. Messrs. Vining, Hermann Vezin, Nelson, D. Fisher, ac.; Mesdames Hermann Vezin, C. Carson, dm Atter which, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. The Two Dromios, by the Brothers Webb. To conclude with' DRAWING-ROOMS, SECOND FLOOR, AND ATTICS. NEW THEATRE-RD YAL, ADELPHL- Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. Last Week but four of Ihe Great Tragediene, Miss Bateman, in the character of LEAH. THIS EV ENING,an apropos Sketch, SHAKESPEARE'S BOUSE : Messrs. J. L. Toole, R. Phillips, Stephenson. Af er which, at 8, LEAH : Miss Bateman, supported by Messrs. A. Stirling, R. Phillips, Billington, Stuart, Eburne, Stephenson ; Miss H. Simms and sirs. Biilington. To conclude with PRE AREA BELLE : Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, cf. Homer, Miss Woolgar, and Mrs. H. Lewis. Commence at 7. /VISS BATEMAN.—L E A H.—THIb EVENING and EVERY EVENING.—Miss Bateman will appear in her great impersonation of the Jewish ma . den until further notice. In order lo give due effect to this most remarkable success of the seison, eaiirely new scenery by the celebrated artists Messrs. Daimon and sons, and Thomps.n. New drc sses and appointments have been prepare 1, for its production.—N. In consequence of the •nressing and numerous applications at the isox-offiA., ar zngementA have cow been trade by which Seats m y be ob tained a Fortnight in Advance. R OYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE, under the Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER. Crowded with rank and fashion.— The greatly successful new Comedy every EveMiig. - - - Amongst the artists engaged will be found the popular trimes of Mr. Benjamin Webster, Mr. Charles Mathews. Mr. Frank Matthews, Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. J. Clarke, Mr. P4lll Bedford, Mr. F. tiobinson. Mr, Ashley ; Mrs. Chas. Mathews, Miss Herbert, Mrs. Frank Matthews, Miss A. Cottrell, Miss Fanny .Josephs, Miss Patti Josephs, Mis 3 Wentworth, and Mrs. btiriing. EVERY EVENING, at 7, a Farce, with a new sensation, called SHAKE HANDS: Mr. J. Clarke, Mr. Ashley. Mr. Johnstone ; Miss Fanny Josephs and Miss Patti Josephs. Alter which, a new and original Comely, in 5 acts, by Dion Boucicault, Esq., entitled THE FOX CHACE. Mr. Charles Mathews, Mr. Frank Matthews, Mr. J. Clarke, Mr. F. Robin son, Mr. Ash ey, Mr. W. Chamwrlaine ; Mrs. Chas. Mathews. Mrs. Frank Matthews, and Miss Henrietta Simms (her third appearance here). At 10, OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND. Mr. Charles Mathews and Mrs. Frank 3Latthews. To conclude with UNDER TUE ROSE. Commence at 7. ROYAL STRAND THEATIt B. Manager, Mr. IV. 11. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, ON AND OFF. Followed by OIZANGE BLOSSOMS. Atter which (14th time) MAZOLTRKA. Messrs. Honey, Turner, ,tc. ; Marie Wilton, ,timpson, litc. To conclude with TURN OUT • Commence at'. COALS. —The LILLESHALL COMPANY'S COALS. • Direct from their own Collieries. Marquis' 24s. per ton. I Double.. 203. per ton. Top 235. „ Nut 5........ 18s. „ Deep ....215. „ Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De pots, Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf , Paddington, W., and Maiden-lane, N. Best Colu. Terms cash. JOHN SCOTT, Sole Agent TIHE THIRD EDITION OF " TH.E SUN," _a_ Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, pan be had Every Evening of G. ft. GLkNIE. NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. The Weather--Sun Office, May 13, 1864. THERMOMETER. This day at Two o'clock 59 Barometer-29. 93 . Wind—N.V.; light breeze, and fine. RIGII WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tuts DAY.—Morning, 6h. 50m.—Afternoon, 7h. 18m. ro-moßnow.-losin g , 7h. 42m.—Afternoon, Bh. 14m. ,'4l/1,4:j Sli LONDON, FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1864. Lord GRANVILLE is one of those fortunate poli ticians who contrive to keep on good terms with all men, and both sides seem to concert in bearing tes timony to his gracious demeanour and universal suavity. In the storm of debate he is ever careful in his expressions, and so times his replies as to ex ci:e no bitter feelin g and wound no prejudices. Of course, in a more genial sphere, and among an auditory who meet for a common object and are united in their sentiments, ho can appear to more advantage and meet with no opposition to his benevolent welshes and cordial sympathies. On Wednesday he presided at a meeting at Burlington House for the purpose of awarding certificates and medals to those who bad passed with h onours at His lordship, the University of London• who wore i n formed the meeting that, his robes as Chancellor, in order to be present among them, ho had obtained permission from the QUEEN to absent hiresself from Court. In treating of the various subjects which appertained to his them e , his lordship e xpressed his satisfaction that they had contrived to retain among them those principles of a liberal and comprehen sive character which had always distinguished that University. It is a great proof of the necessity of establishing some institutions of this extended class that so much support and patronage is always accorded to it. Doubtless, some exclusive rules and regulations are necessary in certain quarters, and may be productive of great benefit in effecting the objects in view, b ut still it is highly requisite th a t some establishments should exist in which a more impartial rule should hold sway and reign para mount as its guiding Inflaence and informing pri d e ciple. Lord GRANVILLE had the proud task of commenting upon the vast improvement that had taken place in the condition and prospect of the University of late years. There NI ec© nearly double the number of candidates in 1863 to what there were in 1857. This increase is not owing to any facilities afforded by the examination, for that has been still more extended, and of a more searching, character. Everyone knows that a man of experience in public speaking, still more a fluent orator and an accomplished debater, can at all times, and in all places, make a good case out of very little, and with ingenious description and dexterous management may impart a very animated tone to his discourse, and impresses his hearers very favourable. Lord GRANVILLE, however, possiessed this advantage, and stood on this van tage ground, that proof were not wanting to illustrate his words, and he accordingly adduced this unanswerable argument in favour of the benefits conferred by this university, of which he that day treated. This year, for the sixth time, there is at the University of Cambridge a senior wrangler who is one of its members, and also there are a second and third wrangler also, be sides many others who have taken very distin guished honours. These circumstances certainly spank volumes in favour of the success of the t frees that are made to promote progress and attain efficiency. It is not often that so satisfactory an account can be given of an institution, and in the present instance it is the more gratifying, because there has been from time to time a great prejudice engendered against this university on account of its more liberal and extended views. It is well, then, that answerable testimony should be afforded to its excellence and utility. Lord GRANVILLE made some very sensible remarks concerning the mode of education that was carried on in different places, and on the peculiar nature of university instruction. It is only of late years that this subject has been mooted at all. People used to go on as if it was an established fact, and a well known thing, that whatever was the order of the day regarding educa tion at these places must be right and fitting. The question is, however, not what course of study trains up scholars of solid learning, and proficients of bril liant excellence, bat whether from those seats of study issue men fitted for the business of life, who are qualified to be of ser vice to themselves and others. The Commission of Inquiry approved highly of the course pursued at the London University as to what was required of scholars before being admitted at all within its precincts. Lord GRANVILLE explained the im portance of this strict rule being enforced, because it is the only way to compel parents and masters of schools to make a change. Every one knows how addicted people are to old established rules and regulations. Many pedagogues will declare all new ideas a sham, and all strange suggestions a perfect mockery. To guard against the narrowing tendencies and contracted scope of these prejudices it is necessary to take every precaution. If the heads of a University enforce their edict that such and such th:ngs must be studied before an entrance is permitted, it follows as a matter of course that all embitious of the privilege will make themselves in some way or other acquainted with the deside ratum of information. It stands to sense that many striking alterations are highly imperative, for as Lord GRANVILLE forcibly put it, it ec as shown that the large mass of students quitted the University " with a great knowledge of cricket and a very good knowledge of rowing, with only that sort of Latin and Greek which is perfectly useless in after life, and entirely destitute of ma• thematical, scientific, elementary truth, a know ledge of history and of their own country, which it must be admitted are desirable if possible to attain." It is a great pity that many cultivated men will fancy that no way is right but what they themselves have previously taken, and that all suc ceeding generations must follow in their wake until the crack of doom. Far otherwise is the view taken by the wise and experi enced ; they can appreciate the good of their own style, without at all ignoring the benefits conferred by other means which a more advanced state of society may deem to be requisite. Lord GRANVILLE did well to dilate upon this topic, be cause he thus furnished food for reflection to 'his hearers, when the first excitement of the hour was over. The more the fundamental principle that guides and governs all connected with Universities is recognised to be, that the main object is to Et youths to be men of service in their day and gene ration, fitted to fulfil with honour and credit the station appointed for them by their Maker, fitted to serve their fellow men, and to adapt their talents to be a benefit and blessing to themselves, the better it will be for the state of society and the recipients themselves. Lord GRANVILLE has well performed his, and it is to be trusted that his earnest exhorta tions and eloquent language will not be thrown away, but stimulate and encourage all who heard them to renew their energies and press on to the prize of their calling, making it their endeavour to attain what should be the end and object of all training, whether school or college, the privilege of becoming " useful and virtuous citizens of that great country to which we are all so proud to belong." It is satisfactory to find an idea or a theory put to practical use. We have all heard so much about the celebration of the three-hundredth birthday of our great poet that it is pleasant to find the COM memeraticn leaving some tangible results behind it —not melting away into the things of the past without effecting any other purpose than giving occasion for a temporary rejoicing. The opportu nity, however, has been turned to good account by the managers of the Royal Dramatic College, who have seized the moment when the public sympa thies are awakened on behalf of the greatest of dramatists to bring forward the claims of the pro fession for kindly help and encouragement. It is proposed by these gentlemen to establish a new public school for boys and for girls, to be called " The Shekspere Foundation Schools," whose dis tinguishing feature should be to have an endowed foundation for a limited number of scholars, who must be the children of actors, actresses, or dra matic writers. By this means it is hoped to com bine the benefits of an institution with the nume rous advantages of a free public school. This very excellent scheme does not indeed own its origin to the Tercentenary Festival, but since it had been long cherished by the projectors, it was felt that this was a fitting opportunity to invoke the aid of the public in endowing the foundation. A public I meeting was held on Wednesday at the Adelphi Theatre, under the able presidency of Mr. CHARLES Dic ErNs, whose admirable speech set forward the claims of the proposed institution on the public for I encouragement and support in so clear and forcible a manner as to carry conviction to the hearers. There was no r.d misericorcliam address, no mourn ful lamentation over the errors or misfortunes in cidental to the profession, but a brave, cheery, manly appeal for a little ki n dl y h e l p i n g i v i ng t h e fi r st start to an establishment which should here after pay its own way; a demand f or a h e l p i ng hand in pushing off the vessel, which, once afloat, will need no other assistance. "The school," said the chairman, after recounting the origin of the scheme, " is to be equal to the beat existing public school. It is to impart a sound, liberal, and com prehensive education:and it is to address the whole great middle class at least as freely; as widely, and as cheaply as any existing public school. There are foundation scholars at Eton, foundation scholars at most of all our old schools, and if the public, in re mem b rance of a no bl e par t of our standard national literature, and in remembrance of a great humanising art, will do this thing for these children, it will at the same time be doing a w ise and good thing for itself," I answer to a possible objection, Mr. DICKENS remarked that it was a singular thing that the children of actors and actresses very seldom followed their parents' profes sion, so that there is no reason to fear overstocking the already overcrowded ranks of minor players. With the hearty English nature belonging to him, Mr. DICKENS bestowed cordial praise on our public schools, and more especially commended the honest self-respect which had hindered the promoters of this scheme from making it an exclusively chari table asylum, and had induced them to throw open their school to all comers of those sturdy middle classes which form so important a part of our English social system. There appeared to be some doubt on the part of some gentlemen present as to the risk of parents in an independent position getting upon the foundation, and it was suggested that a clause shculd be introduced in its charter ex pressly limiting the benefits of gratuitous education to those whose circumstances really need such assistance. There was a strong feeling, however, on the part of the meeting that it would b© un wite and unseemly to brand the foundation scholars .with the stigma of poverty, and put a distinction, as it were, between them and the other children. It would not be the same as any other charitable educational institution where all the children are on the same level, but as the school is to be thrown open to the public, the insertion of such a condition would be invidious. Besides, as Mr. TOM TAYLOR and Mr. B. WEBSTER explained, every election must, according to the rules of the society, be a public one, so that there is no risk of the child of wealthy parents reaping the advantages designed for those who need help. Publicity is, as we all know, the best protection against any underhand or unfair dealings, and so we may reasonably hope that the substantial benefits of this institution will be reserved for those on whose behalf it is founded. The plan will commend itself to many who might be more indifferent to the claims of refuges and asylums. It is always a good thing to give a fair start in life, and a good education is the best patrimony. The fact of throwing open the doors of the schools to all comers has a substantial advantage, since by so doing the managers, as we have said, hope to make them self-supporting. If they are conducted on the principles and with the spirit of our other public schools, there is little fear of their ultimate suc cess, especially as they are to be situated in a part of the country where no such establishments exist at present. The question of middle class education has lately occupied:a good deal of attention, and wise men urged the necessity of putting within their reach the same advantages that Rugby, Eton, and Harrow confer on the higher classes. Therefore these new schools may be looked upon as the first step towards supplying this want, and in so doing the managers of the Royal Dramatic College have shown the foresight and good sense of practical men of business, instead of the indis cretion cnce popularly attributed to their profes sion. The charter of the college expressly provides for the establishment of schools, but their erection has been delayed in favour of the erection of a harbour of refcge for those having, as Mr. DICKENS pathetically expressed it, their feces turned to the setting sun. The young could afford to wait-- they could not, and their needs claimed the first care. But there could be no more fitting time than that of this national commemoration to begin this good work, to show our sense of the claims of those who toil for our pleasure. and to express our sense of what we owe to the art of which SIIAKSPERE is the undisputed king. The annual budget of national receipts and ex penditure is always one of the most important poli tical events of the year. The question of pounds, shillings, and pence may affect, as we all know, matters seemingly far beyond its range. It may influence a nation's policy, and by so doing inter fere with the proceedings or interests of other States. A country whose exchequer is known to be flourishing is regarded with very different eyes by the statesmen and potentates of Europe from one whose finances are at a low ebb, and her friendship or her menaces are often respected accordingly. In younger States, the condition of the finances is always a matter of very great importance, since they only lack the credit and prestige of older nations, which may enable them to recover in one year what they lost in another. The finances of India were, as we all know, until very recently in a highly unsatisfactory position. So great were her embarrassments indeed, that serious fears were entertained as to her prospects, and many wise and cautious men gravely advocated the abandonment of our possessions, since, instead of being a source of profit, she was likely to produce nothing but loss and discomfort. Thanks to the new and enlight ened policy which, in spite of many serious obstacles and difficulties, has presided over Indian finance for the last few years, so great and startling a change has been wrought that the most lugubrious of sight seers cannot now indulge in the gloomy anticipations once so general. Since the inauguration of the new system there has been a continual and decided pro gress. Year by sear matters have mended until, in the budget of 1863, Sir CHARLES TREVELYAN felt himself justified in anticipating a considerable sur plus. But, as we know, there has of late been con siderable anxiety felt as to what his disclosures for 1864 might be. Thanks to the expenses of the frontier war, the tightness of the money market s and the receipts on account of opium, which ex ceeded Mr. LAING'S estimates by £1,750,000, fall ing short of Sir CHARLES TREVELYAN's calculations by more than a million, there have been rumours current that the prosperous financier would have this season to report a deficit. Happily, the event has not fulfilled these sinister predictions, and a balance of £30,000, though far short of what was reasonably hoped for at one time, is sufficient to spare Sir CHARLES TREVELYAN the necessity of imposing new and unwelcome taxes, or of making any addition, direct or indirect, to the fiscal burdens of the people. It seems that much of the uneasi ness ropec, ing the finances was occasioned by a miscalculation regarding the expenses of the Sit tana war. The authorities, on that occasion, acted with commendable promptitude, and being uncer tain how wide or deep the disaffection had spread, having at the moment no means of distinguishing between the insubordination of a few mountain tribes and an organised Mussuloaan conspiracy, they moved up men and batteries in large num bers ready for action. By this means the out break was promptly suppressed, and it was surely wiser, after the lesson of 1857, to be too well armed than too little prepared. It was known that the expense incurred must have been great, which knowledge prepared men, we suppose, for the mis take we have aliuded to. The war was declared to have cost a million sterling, and had it done so it would, of course, have produced a disastrous effect upon the Budget. As it is, with the cost of the Sittana expedition, reckoned at less than one quar ter of the sum supposed, there is, as we have seen, a bare surplus, and consequently had these calcula tions been correct, there would naturally have been a deficit of something like three quarters of a mil lion, We may, indeed, be thankful that the pro gress of Indian development has not been checked by such a weight, which must have pressed heavily on her industry and restricted her awaking energies. The mistake about the war arose from the fact that the cost of the force in peace time, which was of course provided for in the regular expenses of the year, was reckoned among the extra expenses of the war. So that in spite of the opium disappoint ment the Calcutta public is able to rejoice in a surplus instead of a deficit. We are sorry to Trod part of the surplus attributed to the saving in the Public Works Department. £5,000,000 was the sum allowed, but owing to several hin drances and drawbacks not nearly that amount has been spent. Possibly the obstacles were not of a nature to be easily removed ; but we fear that there is not that spirit and energy put into the prosecu tion of these important works that their public nature would justify. The salt trade, which is said to be failing, returned but little, and the Customs receipts are less than the estimates. The land revenue and the Excise have, however, come to the rescue and helped to restore the balance. Sir CHARLES TREVELYAN reduces the duty on tobacco from 20 to 10 per cent., and also —a less popular measure—raises the import duty on cotton goods from 5 to 71 per cent., with adjustment of value to market rate. This part of the measure has excited a strong opposition in commercial circles, and most of the Bombay journals concur in de nouncing it as retrograde and impolitic. It will be seen whether Sir CHARLES may be induced to re consider this part of his Budget. For the coming year the estimated expenditure is £45,340,000, and the estimated revenue £46,160,000, th us l eav i ng a surplus of over £BOO,OOO. It rem a i ns t o b e prove d whether so favourable an augury will prove correct, or whether the monetary crisis of last year, with which the Government proved so powerless to deal, will reappear in the autumn. But at present we may content ourselves with rejoicing that Sir CHAS. TREVELYAN has successfully passed through the ordeal of £217,700 deficit on his estimates. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING', MAY 13, 1864. THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. Although "The Huguenots"—postponed the other day by reason of Herr Schmid's sudden ill ness—was at length performed last evening for the first time this season, it was so performed last even ing under two or three rather serious disadvantages. Signor Mario, it true, was in sp:endid voice for him, and, with his superb acting, excited the audience more than once to an enthusiastic evidence of their admiration. But, not thus was it with the prima donna, Madlle. Pauline Lucca, whose severe cold had to be apologised for through a little hand bill widely circulated through the densely-crowded house. Even without this little deprecatory handbill, however, the indulgence of the audience would have been claimed by the too evident fact of the fair artiste's indisposition. Herr Schmid, again, was not sufficiently recovered from lois illness of last week to make his appearance yesterday as Marcel —this, of course, to the serious disappointment of all those who had been looking forward with delight to hearing his noble voi ce i n hi s impersonation of the old Puritan soldier with hi s " p uff ga ff" song of d e fi ance to the Catholics. As his substitute, Signor Attri undertoek the part of Marcel, but mac.e no more sensation as Marcel than he did the first night of the season in "Norma" as Oroveso. There was, of course, Didiet's page Urbano last night with that lovely trilling" No, no, no, no"--and there was Faure's St. Bris—and there were the magnificent choruses, especially the Benediction of the Daggers and the " Ida.rataplan "—and there was, as ever, that glorious orchestra that Mr. Costa's baton seems to play like one instrument—there were all those ad vantages it is true last night to keep Signor Mario, so to speak, in countenance upon one of his excep tionally good nights. Bat—with these advantages —there were also those ratter serious disadvantages already particularized. The audience had too much reason to regret the sevtra cold of Madlle. Lucca, and the absence of Herr Schmid, and the substitu tion for the latter of signor Attri, as the Marcel, to render the otherwise brilliant performance of the "Huguenots" yesterday completely enjoy.. able. The anise en-scene, the costume 3, the scenery, and the general decorations of this, one of the grandest of all the grand opera in the repertoire of the Royal Italian—were one and all ola piece with the high reputation of the establishment. The per formacce, therefore, in spite of what has already been remarked upon, went off brilliantly through out. To-morrow evening is set apart for the first night this season of the same great and lamented composer's " Roberto it Diavolo"—his first pass port to immortality. On Monday, Madlle. Patti will make her first appearance this season in Bela lini's exquisite " Sonnambala." And on Thursday next, Mario will make his first appearance as Goethe's Student-Hero, in Gounod's masterpiece of " Faust e Margherita." SIGNIFICANT !—Mr. Whiteside, Q.C., during his brildint speech on Wednesday, remarked Ido not know how matters stood in 1815; I oaly know what was said by M. 'niers of the results achieved by Castlereagh, and if he were now our Foreign Minister England would not be the laughing stock of Europe. (Loud and prolonged cheering, which began on the left hand of the Speaker and rolled round the lower end of the house to the benches telow the gangway at the Ministerial side,) --Times report of the Parliamentary Proceedings. THE " ATHEN.,EUM'S " TRIBUTE TO FRANK SMEDLEY.—In the old electioneering days, when contests for Westminster were carried on for a fortnight, with a formidable riot every day but Sunday, when the sweet voices of the non-electors were hushed for a brief breathing-time, Mr Smedley, the High Bailiff of West minster, was a name and a power, the former of which was well known, and the latter unhesitatingly acknowledged within the bailiwick. Mr Smedley left surviving him a son, Francis Edward, who won a respectable name and position in literature, and who has just departed, also, to the better land. "Frank Smedley," as he was popularly known, and affectionately called by friends, was not con formed, by nature or inclination, to take his father's °Mee, but he found that the world, to hire, was full of compensa tions, and he was sensible enough to take and enjoy them. He was a pleasant and graceful writer, begin nin g his modest career of pleasantness and grace some half dozen years ago, with " Lewis Arundel; or, the Railroad of Life," Mr Frank Smedley had written previously, but this work, remarkably well received by its public of young readers, gave him a name. He continued to labour with spirit, in spite of permanent ill-health, each year bringing its new tale, work which he varied by editing now defunct maga zines, and by working in collaboration wi th Mr Edmund Yates. And now, after these dozen y little more, has disappeared from the ear s of work and suffering, Frank Smedley, a t the age of thirt y -five, or a literary brotherhood, where there is not a man w h o knew him who did not love him, or who will ever remember Frank but with a tender, brotherlike regard. THE CONFERENCE.—Thn Const itutionnel pub lishes the followi ng i n consp i cu ous type :—" The suspen elm of hostiliti es b y l an d an d by sea during a month, with raising of the blockade, has a real importance, and has been most favourably received by public opinion. It will, perhaps, be remembered that, when the question of a Conference was mooted for the first time, we endeavoured to demonstrate that the first condition —the essential con dition--was winacsontvheensieunscpeenosfionof keeping hostilities. if not of incre as i ng ties. The continua tion of the war wou ld, i n fact, have led to th e in the ambition:and illusions of all parties ; consequently ren dering a settlement more difficult. Moreover, it was not in keeping with the dignity of the Conference to deliberate upon bases which events might modify in an instant, and was contradictory to ask from Wisdom a solution which the force of arms might cancel at any moeuent. Finally, free dom of judgment and of decision was not entirely at the command of the Conference, which, urged by the most noble sentiments of humanity t o put a stop to the effusion incomplete, have of blood and to th e ca l am ities of war , mi g ht b e led to Fre savheich improved. a more flee and matured Thus we cipitate matters, and force a s olution which would have deliberation w deeply regret to see the Conference meet with ou t the preliminary condition of a suspen sion of hoetilitice, thatßut wFerawnecree anti aware, E nagnladntdhat.eirtB uniting their effo r t s to. was which reassur e d us , obtain at the very commencement of the Conference that which had not been obtained before its opening. av e are happy to learn that the efforts of the two Governments have been crowned with success, and that the convention con cluded upon the basis of uti possidetis is in the most abso lute sense. No movement of troops nor any concentration of material on any point whatever will take place, The suspension of hostilities leaves the belligerents in their actual positions, Let us hope that this delay of one month will be turned to good account. Let us hope that a calm and free discussion will restore the respect for the rights of all, and that the counsels of wisdom will now be heard, as they will no longer he drowned by the roar of cannon,' LATEST INTELLIGENCE LREUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] AMERICA. (Per the Nova Scotian, via Greencastle.) NEW YORK, APRIL 30 (Afternoon). There is no political or military news of any mportance. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE, Money easy. Gold, 79k premium. Stocks dull. New York Centrals, 134 ; Illinois, 1261; Erie, 1131. Business generally is extremely dull. ARRIVAL OF THE CROWN PRINCESS OF PRUSSIA AT HAMBURG, HAMBURG, MAY 13. The Crown Princess of Prussia arrived here by special train this morning, and alighted at the Hotel de l'Europe. It is expected that her royal highness will await the arrival of the Crown Prince from the seat of war this afternoon. FRANCE. SPEECH OF M. ROUHER ON DENMARK AND POLAND. PARIS, MAY 13. In yesterday's sitting of the Corps Legislatif, M. Rouher, replying to M. Favre, spoke at great length on the Danish question. The Minister said he saw with grief the invasion of the Duchies. He could not discuss certain questions, because the conference had met. He confined himself, therefore, to refuting the observations of M. Favre upon the conduct of France until the meeting of conference, and pointed out that the treaty of 1852 did not oblige France to make war to defend the resolution of the Conference and the integrity of the Danish monarchy. M. Rouher also observed that to uphold the treaty England would have easy victories at sea, but France would be obliged to march upon the Rhine, and traverse Germany to reach Danmark. " If (said the Minister) France could embark her treasure in such an enterprise it is not to Denmark that we should have gone, we should rather have moved armies for other misfortunes and other sorrows. " But the policy of the Government is not a policy of sentiment. When such questions present them selves, a government devoted to the country does not engage in war before having everywhere exhausted all the combinations which might secure and main• tain peace. "We have respected the treaty of 1852. We have accepted every means for re-establishing peace." The Minister concluded his remarks on the Danish question by expressing the hope that the Confer. ence would give peace. With regard to Poland tiZ. Rouhcr stated that the question was an European one, and continued as follows : "We have suffered deeply by the events in Poland and Gallicia, but we did not wish to trouble the peace of Europe. We understood that collective steps on the part of the Powers being no longer capable of realisation France should no longer make vain protests at St. Petersburg, but should leave to God and to time the care of judging on which side lay the great iniquity and on which side legi timate grievances." On the subject of Congress the Minister said the Powers who had refused the Congress had in flicted upon themselves the greatest injury. "France was not less glorious and powerful after the refusal of the Congress." BOURSE, May 12.—Sales for realisation have renderei the market heavy, but without producing any material effect on prices, Threes, for the Ac count, standing now at E6f. 70c. Mobilier show a slight improvement, being last quoted at 1,170 f. Railway Market heavy, with a trifling decline on some of the lines. The market receded towards the close, and left off as follows : 41 per Cents. 93 -- Do. end month 3 per Cents Do. end month 66 60 Credit Mobilier 1157 50 Do, end month 115 . 2 50 Bank Shares 3360 Credit I oncier 1255 Roman ItAILI Italian Loan 6B 70 Do. end month 6B 70 Sew ditto .. Do. end month.... Russian Austrian Spanish Threes — Home Debt Deferred .. 4sk V"AYB. Cash. Account. 878 75 ~ 877 50 982 50 .. 983 75 , 880 885 877 50 .. 6.50 650 495 461 25 .. 463 75 365 .. 365 -- 406 25 , . 405 533 75 .. 535 490 .. 492 50 570 670 '270 27U Orleans Northern .... Lyons and Mediterranean New ditto Southern Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lon , bard North of Spain Saragossa Ditto to Barcelona WEST INDIA AND PACIFIC MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, MAY 13. The Royal Mail steamer L t Plata, has arrived here with the above mails, 219 passengers, 1,120,555 dols. in specie, and 1,270 packages of cargo. She left St. Thomas 03 the 29th ult. The British ship Childe Harold from Shanghae to Liverpool, picked up on the 17th of March, the crew of the Spanish brig Algorto, which was burnt at sea. Oa the following day the Childe Harold got dismasted, and on the 31st was abandoned in a sinkingstate. Both crews were afterwards picked up by the Olderberg ship Frederick, and landed at Antigua. The Confederate steamer Alabama was expected on the coast cf California. Much excitement existed in consequence. The California steamers were carrying 30 sol diers each voyage in case of being attacked. PLYMOUfH, MAY 13. The Agincourt, from Melbourne, on the Jan. 16, has passed up channel. She Was reported off Pen zance last night. She brings 3,147 ounces of gold. The elections in Chili passed off quietly, with a majority in favour of the Government. Prices of copper continued to yield good returns to operators. Valparaiso exchange 44 to a. Paris, 4 60. The Talamba question between Peru and Spain was stated to have entered into an alarming stage. The Spanish commissioners, having been refused recognition of his official capacity, addressed an ultimatum to the Peruvian Government, which was returned unopened. The Spanish representative had embarked in the steamer Covadongo. Complications were apprehended by the Peru vians. Exchange in Peru 37 to 371. At Jamaica the coffee crop was nearly exhausted, and prices had advanced. No change in the sugar market. Her Majesty's ship Orontes arrived at Jamaica on the 18th, and was to sail for England on the 24th. At Demerara sugar was in demand, and refining grades were quoted 5 to 5,50, The other islands were busy gathering in the crop% At Santo Domingo the Dominican Genera Melia had been %ell received by the inhabitants. The Spaniards are said to be continually suffer. ing reverses. TLe country is very unsettled. MADAME GRisi has not, it appears, gone to Bar celona, but is in England, and, our contemporaries add, with singing intentions if she can obtain permission to carry them out, LITERATURE. The Jest Book. Selected and arranged by Mark Lemon. One Vol. Pp. 361. Macmillan. A wiser and a wittier Joe Miller has had com mitted to his charge the pleasant task of making this very delightful compilation. Quipa and cranks are here in abundance. Nods and becks come out upon us plentifully in the shape of apt italics and emphasising notes of exclamation. The pith and marrow of a joke is alone for the most part given by the collector and collator of these witticisms and whimsicalities. We don't 'light, hardly any where, upon one of those dreary circumlocutory pre ambles to a joke that so effectually take the flavour off it, beforehand. As—" One morning when Sydney Smith was walking down the right-hand side of Sr. James's-street, between seven and eight o'clock p.m., immediately after the rising of the Commons on a count-out, happening to meet H. on the threshold of the Thatched House Tavern at the moment a shower of rain was beginning to fail, upon H. re marking "—until one gets just sick to death of the joke (even though it is one of Sydney Smith's) long before the joke itself comes to our knowledge. No—here, in " The Jest Book" consisting of the choicest anecdotes and sayings, selected and are ranged by the very man who ought to have been selected to arrange them, to " wit," Mark Lemon, the Editor of Punch—we have none of this intoler able jabbering garnish of empty small talk by way of preliminary to a pun, a sarcasm, a humorous inuendo, or any other sort or kind of sudden facetiousness. Mr. Lemon, one might say, has apparently taken Punch's nose and chin for his nutcrackers—and has, with the aid of those same comical nippers,cracked all his appetizing little nuts of fun, nuts of all sorts, filberts, walnuts, barcelona nuts, pistuchio nuts, cherry stones, peach stones, apricot stones, nectarine stones, and so forth, and has ranged them all before us on his ample board, each with its flavouring (more or less as the case may be) of Attic salt —so that we can devour them at once, without any more ado, and with a relish. Of course there are several old friends who thus come to light here in this motley concourse of witticisms and whimsicalities. But most of them are such merry old friends that we are right glad to meet with them again among our new acquaintance. Once or twice, in his way of telling an old joke, we detect Mr. Lemon, to our great amazement, spoiling it As, in the one (23) where Sheridan threatens to cut his son off with a shilling—the true reading is to the effect that Tom plumps out at once, "You don't happen to have it about with you now, sir, do you ?" Our younger Joe Miller, however, having a very dim remembrance of this, and of Tom Sheridan's other reply to his father when the latter was urging him to take a wife— " Whose, sir ?'' Mark Lemon, we say, here mixes the two good jokes together into one very indifferent one. So also is it with his report of Rogers's venturesome question about Junius, addressed by the old Banker Poet to Sir Philip Francis—That (50) ought to have been given rather thus: 11.—" There's one question I should very much like to ask you, Sir Philip." Sir P. F. (severely)—" You'd better not, sir !" In (103) surely by a misprint Grinlirg Gibbons is mentioned—facetiously perhaps—as Grinly ! Where possibly oan the jest lie again in (368) when Lord Ellenborough is related as having stepped his carriage on his way home from Hone's Trial, at Charing Cross, saying "It occurs to me that they sell the best herrings in London at that shop. Buy six." Can anybody see the joke there ? For the life of us we can't. On the very same page, tno, there is a morsel of fatuous stupidity in the shape of a little doggrel epigram in four lines, upon " Charles Kean, the actor"—that, when perpetuated thus in a book, almost reads like a mean malignity. Another very old joke with a new variation is the story told about Quin and the John Dories here (493) transformed for once into mullets. Several of the droll things thus collected together are capitally good, some of them being rather new to us. The Quaker (to a man violently abusing him) "Have a care friend, thou may'st run thy face against my fist." The gentleman (with two wretched candles, at an inn), "Here, waiter, let me have a couple of decent candles to see how these others burn." The other gentleman, at the other inn (to the boy who had been a long while getting him another cut of beef), "Are you the same boy I gave the order to ? " Yes, sir." " Dear me, how you've grown !" Lord Norbury (to the man who had been boasting of shooting thirty-three hares before breakfast)—" Thirty - three hairs! Zeunde, sir, then yon must have been firing at a wig !" Doctor Johnson's well-remembered growl (in reference to a long piece of music just played before him, and which had been spoken of as diffi cult)—" Difficulty ? Would to God, sir, it had been impossible !" Sir William Cheere, the possessor of a very long nose—playing backgammon with an irritated player who was losing, and who (incom moded perhaps by the long nose of Sir Wil liam) had exclaimed, " Blow your nose"—" Blow it yourself," being thereupon Sir William's im perturbable rejoinder "it's as near you as me." The Highlander to his friend, who had been complaining of having passed an indifferent night at a wayside inn where they were stopping, thereupon asking his friend about his might— " Troth, man, nee vera weel, either ; but I was muckle better aff than the bugs, for de'il fine of them closed an e'e the hale night !" Sydney Smith's famous inquiry at the dinner table (from a person who had immediately before dinner been announcing himself to be a materialist—" Very good soup this, sir," says Smith. " Oui, Monsieur, c'est excel lento," is the reply. " Pray, sir," says Sydney, "Do you believe in the cook ?" Jerrold, to the very thin, dull man—" Sir, you are like a pin, but without the head or the point," The pretty quakeress to the young fellow who had threatened to kiss her—" Friend, thee must not do it." " Ob, by Jove, but I must," says the youth." " Well, friend, as thou hest sworn, thee may do it, but thee must not make a practice of it." Enough, however, surely has been said here of and from Mark Lemon's " Jest Book" to tickle the appetite for more of these good things among these who not only love a laugh, but who can appreciate a good thing when they hear it or read it. If we could weed out a mere sprinkling of what appear to us very indifferent jests,one, by way of example, we have already given, —and if we could then add in their places others that we wot of and yet fail to find in this ample repertory of fun—we should pronounce this new " Jest Book" as among all kinds and descriptions of jest-books, from Joe Miller downwards, or upwards ought we to say ? the rte plus ultra of facetiousness. As it is—it is a triumphant defiance of that result of blue devilment, ennui—delightfully misspelt in Charles Reade's Christie Johnstone, "Yawn-we !" It is one of the merriest table books that has for , a long while past made its appearance. Popular Edition of the Noctes Anzbrosianm. By Professor Wilson. Vol. IV. Blackwood and Sons. With this fourth volume the popular edition of the immortal Noctes Ambrosiance is completed. As a frontispiece to it—we have Sir John Watson Gordon's life-like portraiture of Thomas De Quincey, most eloquent of Opium-eaters. Noctes, from the thirty , third to the thirty-ninth inclusively, ar c hero given in their entirety—the thirty ninth, which appeared in the February number of Maya 1835, closing the renowned serial in which among others (each in turn,facile princeps), North Tickler and the Shepherd had been the interlocu tors. Perhaps the lion's share of talk over the bread of Ambrose fell to the lot of the Ettrick Shepherd— the latter thus in other words, we suppose we may say, going the whole Hogg. But here, happily for the perfected completeness of the four. volumed edi tion now squared up by the Messrs. Blackwood, we find at the end of volume four not merely an ampis glossary from the Scoticisn►s, with a copious index to the immense variety of topics touched upon in these discursive conversations and soliloquys,but be sides that a reprint in its entirety from Blackwood's Maga:tne for October 1817 of the renowned. " Chat dee Manuscript." It will hardly surprise anyone, therefore, we presume, if we herewith add, that , &OITA t rnthrt t HER MAJESTY, WINDSOR CASTLE, May 12. The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness Princess Louise, arrived at Windsor Castle last evening soon after seven o'clock, attended by Lady Augusta Stanley, the Hon. Mrs. Bruce, Lord Alfred Paget, and Captain Sir W. Hoste. Her Royal Highness Princess Leiningen and the Princess Alberta arrived yesterday afternoon on a visit to her Majesty. Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness Princess Louise, walked and drove in the grounds this morning. The Judge-Advocate-General had an audience of the Queen. Her Royal Highness Princess Hdena accom panied the Prince and Princvis of "Wales at the State concert en "Wednesday evening, and wore a dress of rich pink silk handsomely trimmed with lace and ruches of crape; head-drese, acacias and rosss ; diamond ornaments. Her Majesty went on Wednesday to Baron Maro chetti's studio to see the colossal statue of the Prince Consort, in progress for Glasgow, as well as other works of the Baron. Sir Ed, win Landseer had at the same time the honor of submitting his model of the colossal lion on which he is engaged for Trafalgar-square. The Prince of Wales rode on horseback yesterday, attended by Major Teesdale. The Princess of Wales took a carriage drive, at tended by the Hon. Mrs. W. Grey. Princess Helena and Princess Louise visited the Princess of Wales in the forenoon. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales honoured Earl Granville with their pre sence at the evening party given at the South Ken- sington Museum. Their Royal Highnesses were attended by tho Hon. Mrs. W. Grey and Major Teesdale. ROYAL VISIT TO DUNROBIN CASTLE. The Wick papers state authoritatively that the Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to visit the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland at Duerobin Castle in September. In anticipation of a review before their royal highnesses, the Sutherland volunteers are very busy at drill. The Earl of Radnor is, according to the latest accounts from Coleshill, much better. The venerable peer is, however, in a weak state. The Earl and Countess of Cork had a dinner party yesterday evening at their residence in Grafton-street. There were among the guests Viscountess Dungarvan, Lord Hubert de B. Canning, Sir William Alexander, Mr Knightley, M.P., Mr Alfred Seymour, M.P., Hon. John and Mrs Ashley, Hon. Mrs Lyttelton, Mr and Hon. Mrs Higgins, Mr. Baillie CJchrane, M,P., and Miss Cochrane, The Dowager Countess Spencer has taken 12, Grosvenor-street, for the season, and is expected in London at the end of this month with Lady Sarah Spencer. while costlier copies of the work' under notice ar of course, procurable from the publishers, a better a completer, in all essential respects. a more beauti ful edition than this Popular reprint, in Four Volumes, could not be obtained anywhere of Pro fessor Wilson's magnum opus, the " Noctes Am brosiam." The series, we are glad to observe, will immediately be followed by a similar edition of Christopher North's Recreations. People's Edition of Macaulay's History of England. Part VII. Longman and Co. Half of the populEir edition of Lord Macaulay's foreshortened " History of Eugland"—a gigantic literary undertaking, so purely fragmentary in the farm in which it has been left to us that we can only judge of it as a whole, as it were, by analogy, ex pede Hereulem— one exact moiety of the work has, with this instalment of it, been republished. The People's Edition was aneounced at its commencemen t Us designed to lengthen out into fourteen Lumbers, and here is the seventh. The whole is to be com pacted into four volumes, and two consequently are already supplied to the subscribers. Printed though the work is necessarily in small type, on double columned pages, it is nevertheless so beau tifully printed, and in every other respect so ad mirably well got up that "The Popular Edition" is as satisfactory and admirable, as such, as the costliest library edition in its way could be in all the luxury of vellum-like paper, bound in calf-gilt. EXPEDITIOUS WRITING,--This is the title of a little work issued to the, public by Mr W. Hall, F.R.C.S,, and which may be read with great ad vantage by every person engaged in correspon dence. It lays down certain rules for abbreviating writing without the labour and trouble of a study of stenography, and also a clear and concise system for the combination of shorthanc characters, with the abbreviations above-mentioned. The work will oe found very interesting, and at t'Lle same time highly useful. MISCELLANEOUS.—The May portion of the Events of the Month contains a number of v.ry readable papers on a variety of subjects; for in., stance, we have "Letters from the Nile," " A few Words about Modern Music," " Floral Decoration of Village Churches," and "The Earthquakes of the 19th Century." Altogether, the present part is a very good one. —The Alexandra Magazine opens with a new tale of great interest, entitled "Born at Sea ;" this is followed by a very pretty poem, " The Virtucus Woman," by Mrs. Sewell, and then succeeds a very sensible and valuable con tribution, entitled " Parental Responsibility." A number of other useful and interesting papers enables this magazine well to sustain its character, namely, the woman's social and industrial advocate.—The Social Science Review this month gives us the concluding portion of Dr Richardsoa's highly interesting paper on the "Diseases of Over-worked Men.": It is replete with valuable information and sugges tions, and, therefore, we commend it to the careful perusal of all professional men. "The Cabmen of London" is a very good contribution ; and amongst the other miscella neous papers is one on the "Care of Habitual Drunken ness."—The monthly parts of Once a Week form a very entertaining companion for a railway journey —Theßrom ley Lecture-hall Chronicle contains a report of the visit of Mr. Harper Twelvetrees to the Continental Temperance Congress at Hanover, and a good collection of articles of interest to the temperance cause. THE GARIBALDI FUND, TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. St. James's Hotel, 76, Jermyn-street, May 12, 1864. Stn,-1 trust you will permit me, through your columns, to protest, on the part of Circassia, against the proposition published in the Times this morning, to apply the money raised for M. Garibaldi in aid of the Circassian& It will be better to spare this insult to a people who have been abandoned in their hopeless struggle, solely because that struggle was one of pure right, and not available for foreign passions or designs.—Your obedient servant, D. - Ulu HART. THE LAST PERFORMANCE, for the season, of the Oratorio of Oratorios, Handel's "Israel," is given by the Sacred Harmonic Society this evening, SO LIKE A PRUSSIAN I—An official intimation was received at the Royal Arsenal on Monday, from the War-office, stating that his Excellency Count Bernstorfl; the Prussian ambassador, would visit the Arsenal on that day, and arrangements were made for according him a suit able reception. Ly some singular mistake his Excellency, who arrived at 'Woolwich accompanied by several friends, instead of going to the arsenal went to the dockyard, whero his arrival was totally unexpected, and he was informed that by the rules of the establishment foreigners were not admitted without an Admiralty order. His Excellency ex plained that that ho was the Prussian ambassador, and that information must have been forwarded of his inteu6ed visit, and seemed altogether surprised at his reception. Unfortu nately the commodore was absent, and no alternative re mained but that his Excellency should be conducted over the establishment by a policeman. His Excellency, still under the impression that he was at the arsenal, did not appear to approve his reception, and left the dockyard with his friends, saying he would visit it another day. In t lO interim the authorities at the Royal Arsenal were patiently waiting to receive the, illustrious visitor, who, though they remained till sunset, it will he seen, did not arrive. On the War Department being communicated with inquiries We° immediately set on foot, and after a thorough investigatio n the above facts have transpirod.-11forning „Post. COPENHAGEN, May S.—The Estella (brigantioe) , of Goole, from Liverpool for Stettin, was brought in her e to-day on account of her presumed intention to run the blockade. The Hermann (Dutch ship), which had bee n se 7 zed and brought in here a second time, on account , presumed intention of breaking the blockade, has again been released, and will sail for Coblenz the first favourable wind • Dautzic, May 9,—One Danish vessel of war in eight.